ROCKFORD — A retired deputy chief with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department has announced plans to succeed his former boss.

Bob Springer, 55, of Durand, announced today his candidacy for Winnebago County Sheriff. He'll compete in the March 18 Democratic primary against retired Rockford police veteran Bob Redmond and one-time sheriff's candidate Randy Olson. Gary Caruana, a former deputy and retired security manager for United Parcel Service, is the only Republican to announce his candidacy.

Springer retired after 31 years with the Sheriff's Department in April 2010. He started his career as a corrections officer in 1979 and became a deputy in 1981. He was promoted to lieutenant and captain before becoming a deputy chief under Sheriff Dick Meyers.

Springer said his experience as the only candidate who has worked, supervised or commanded each aspect of the Sheriff's Department prepares him to manage the office from "the first minute, of the first hour, on the first day" of the job.

In addition to his work with the Sheriff's Department, Springer worked with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, which coordinates mutual aid and emergency response for law enforcement in Illinois. He spent the last three years as Region 2 coordinator for ILEAS, but resigned from that role on Monday in order to pursue his campaign for sheriff. He was responsible for coordinating with nearly 100 police agencies and 18 sheriff's departments.

Springer wants to unite police leaders from across the area to take a regional approach to stopping crime.

"A lot of the issues are very common threads. The gangs are the same, the drugs are the same and a lot of the players are the same," Springer said. "So, let's start a discussion about how we can combat that and come up with a strategy we can all work with."

Meyers announced in September his plans to retire when his term is up Dec. 1, 2014. Meyers will have served 47 years in law enforcement when he retires and will be the longest-serving sheriff in Winnebago County history with 17 years as the county's top cop.

It's the first time in about 40 years that an incumbent sheriff is not seeking reelection.